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As Blake Griffin's injury heals, Clippers get desperate

LOS ANGELES – As the Los Angeles Clippers head to Memphis with their season on the line in Game 6, the odds and the frontline matchups are stacked against them. Historically, according to the reference site

LOS ANGELES — As the Los Angeles Clippers put their season on the line, the odds and the front-line matchups are stacked against them.

While leaving Staples Center is its own challenge, the Clippers have other problems. They will try to slow down the Memphis Grizzlies' interior duo of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Memphis' big men have taken the series over since the Game 2.

"We double teamed Zach and Gasol, but they hurt us with cutters and offensive rebounds," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "And with the zone, we played it a little bit, but it opens up the glass on you. They're so effective on the glass. There's nothing off of the board, we're looking at everything. We had a good practice today and now it's about coming in, bringing the intensity at the highest level and putting the pressure on them to make plays. Bu it's defensively, rebounding and finding bodies, doing all the things we know we need to do."

Trying to contain Randolph and Gasol is a daunting task when healthy, but the Clippers may not be at full strength. All-Star forward Blake Griffin suffered an ankle injury before Game 5 and the team is still unsure of his status for Friday's game.

"It's a little better today," Griffin said. "But, we'll see how it is after sitting on it for the next 24 hours. We'll have to see tomorrow.

"The first day, I guess Tuesday, it felt OK and before the game it felt OK. Yesterday was kind of a step backwards, but today it was better. So, it's been fluctuating I guess."

Griffin was limited to 20 minutes in Game 5. But depth has been one of the Clippers' strengths this season. Friday's game could put that to the test.

"We'll adjust," said Clippers guard Chris Paul. "Hopefully he's able to go. Blake is one of those guys who has a lot of fight and he's going to do everything he can. But if he feels he's going to hurt the team then he won't. But, we have guys like (Lamar Odom), Grant Hill, Matt (Barnes) and all those guys who can step in and fill in."

Odom, who has averaged 4.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 16 minutes per game during the series, may be Del Negro's best option if Griffin can't go. Odom has the most experience of playing in elimination games, with more than 1,100 playoff games under his belt and two championships during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Odom has tried to be that steadying veteran presence this season with mix results, but hopes his words could be heard more given the severity of the circumstances.

"I've been trying to do that all year," Odom said. "Some people listen and some choose not to, but this team is young and this is the perfect time not only your eyes but your ears open because it's going to be hard. I always tell them too, we talk about the hard times in this series, but it's only going to get harder. That's kind of how life is. It's only going to get harder when you look at the West and trying to win a NBA championship. It's only going to get harder."

Even with the issues inside the pain, the Clippers are only going to go as far as Paul takes them.

Paul had 35 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals in Game 4 but noted during Thursday's shoot-around that he needed to do a better job of getting his teammates involved.

"We're down 3-2 going into a hostile environment," Paul said. "You get to see what you're made of. That's what the playoffs are for. That's why we get a chance to correct things."

According to whowins.com, home teams with a 3-2 advantage close the series out 65 percent of the time. This is a position the Clippers couldn't have imagined themselves being in after two games, when they held a commanding 2-0 series lead.

"It's the playoffs," Clippers point guard Chris Paul said. "It happens. At the end of the day it's the first team to win four, not the first team that wins two or three and a half."

Defensive Player of the Year: Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies. Overshadowed for years by older brother Pau, Gasol led the best defense in the NBA by averaging 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals a game.
Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports

Sixth Man of the Year: J.R. Smith, New York Knicks. Initially unhappy coming off the bench, Smith took charge and was the second-leading scorer (18.1 points a game) on the second-best team in the Eastern Conference.
Debby Wong, USA TODAY Sports

Most Improved Player: Paul George, Indiana Pacers. En route to his first All-Star Game, George improved his game across the board while taking the role of lead scorer from injured Danny Granger.
Pat Lovell, USA TODAY Sports